Catholic Herald

[dave1948]

feeling rather stupid. 2 to do and I just can't see them

17a It's one mass here perhaps before hammer breaks off foe (3-3)
?C?_ -P?? Ice ?

16d Idiotic, crazy to ostracize bridge player (5)
???N?

2nd letter of 16d is last letter of 17a

[Quizmonkey]

16 Inane (insane minus S)

[emeritus]

17a Looks like

Ice Pan ?

[slaney]

Ice pan? pan= hammer, but can't see full wordplay.

[dannyk13]

Maybe 1 plus ce for church (where mass is held)

[dave1948]

17a now ?C?-P?N
So as Emeritus suggests Ice-pan but I can't see why

[dannyk13]

See comment above

[dave1948]

Thank you all especially Dannyk.

I usually see the answer but can't reason why and the ice bit threw me totally

[dannyk13]

You,re welcome

[slaney]

..and the "breaks off foe" bit?

[emeritus]

Are you sure it doesnt read Breaks off Floe

That would indicate Ice Pan

[slaney]

Ahh I see - it's meant to be breaks of floe?